Painting your Cybertruck

[CyberGus]

Fingerprint-resistant appliances are basically PPF wrapped.

Stainless steel has an integral coating called “chromium”. Chemicals applied to the surface will be inferior.

The DeLorean has but one painted stainless part, the header frame over the top of the windshield. It notoriously has flaking and peeling paint.

Stainless is difficult to paint. It has poor adhesion, even when the surface has been roughened.

My 40+ year-old DeLorean looks good as new. The Cybertruck has a different grade of steel, so will likely have different upkeep methods, but I’m sure it can be done.

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[Cybergirl]

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I remember them talking about it.

But do you really think that the team didn't think of it? It's one of the basic problems with stainless, as you said.

But with all the discussing that we can do, let's just wait and see. I haven't heard of the YouTubers making a big deal out of yet. The forums and press seem to make a big deal out if though (as usual).

I'm sure Tesla was aware of the issue. I suspect it's why they offer three wrap options, but left the bare steel on the base truck for the owner to deal with. We'll have to wait and see what people discover works best to protect the steel finish without covering it with vinyl, PPF, or paint. I'm sure there's something that can be applied to the clean, bare surface to seal it. I use waterless cleaner from Aero Cosmetics on my Model Y, and I'm going to try their stainless conditioner. https://washwax.com/pages/appliances-stainless-care

 

[ÆCIII]

There is no way I would ever paint the Cybertruck, because of the requirement for abrasive sanding to remove or prep for repaint. Once you paint, it would be difficult to go back to stainless because of the tedious paint removal process likely damaging the stainless surface.

Wraps remove cleanly with no damage, and don't require environmentally hazardous conditions for application or removal. One doesn't need a respirator to work with wraps.

One of the prime reasons for Tesla choosing a custom alloy of stainless is corrosion resistance, along with strength and durability. We of course don't know how oxidation and corrosion might slowly happen over ten years or more, but I'm betting it will be negligible or easy to buff out. Time will tell.

But to me the fingerprints retention alone is justification enough for a wrap, whether it's a clear PPF wrap, color wrap and PPF combination, or color PPF. But I would never paint it.

When seeing the Cybertruck in person, the stainless looked even more beautiful than ever compared to images I had seen online. It will be likely clear PPF for me.

- ÆCIII

 

[Cybergirl]

Yes, I understand that once painted, always painted. You have to be absolutely sure you will not regret that decision.

 

[anionic1]

I imagine painting will be the preferred fix by body shops in the near future.

 

[MyKidCouldDrawThat]

Theme idea instead of painting: Keep it stainless and glue up the big kitchenaid fridge handles on doors and hood

 

[LexusCyber]

There's heaps of videos that show fingerprints on the CT. One of the OCD videos even compares the wrap with the plain SS.

Personally I'd wrap it after a while of using it. 10years for self healing ppf is good enough I think.

I like this one atm for the most similar to the original look wrap. Makes it look even more "rendered".

this is the best wrap yet for Cybertuck. super elegant, durable self healing... I love how they added the Foundations logo.. super sleek!!! wondering how much is this PPF wrapping. I am sold!!!

 

[Bill W.]

Personally, I would not want to paint the truck.

Way back when, I had a DeLorean that I (mistakenly) assumed would never need any care for the exterior, other than simply washing. The stainless steel would tend to look shabby, until I found a stainless steel cleaner by 3M. Weekly wipe-downs would keep it pristine. The texturized surface of the panels made this a very easy process with great results. Not sure what the surface finish is like on the CT, but I'll plan on weekly cleaning.

It will be interesting to see what options the forum members here choose (bare/wrap/paint/other) as the real deliveries ramp-up.

 

[Woodrick]

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I'm sure Tesla was aware of the issue. I suspect it's why they offer three wrap options, but left the bare steel on the base truck for the owner to deal with. We'll have to wait and see what people discover works best to protect the steel finish without covering it with vinyl, PPF, or paint. I'm sure there's something that can be applied to the clean, bare surface to seal it. I use waterless cleaner from Aero Cosmetics on my Model Y, and I'm going to try their stainless conditioner. https://washwax.com/pages/appliances-stainless-care

You do realize that you probably don't have access to get your Cyberrtruck wrapped don't you? There are only 3 locations, if I remember correctly, that Tesla has that will wrap. And they are already wrapping other vehicles.

Wrapping seems to be a big deal for a lot of Tesla owners, I'm guessing that Tesla is only listening to the need.

So any owners think that the Tesla paint job is crappy and that's partially to be blamed on CA EPA restrictions on paint. But I've had my Model 3 for 6 years and it is still looking great.

Wrapping has actually become a big part of customizing a vehicle.


So I wouldn't go anywhere near as far as to say that Tesla did it to hide the bare steel.

 

[Woodrick]

Yes, I understand that once painted, always painted. You have to be absolutely sure you will not regret that decision.

And that whoever buys the truck after you as well.

 

[CyberNickOH]

I've already purchased a roll of Avery SW 900 Matte Supreme Black to put on as soon as it's delivered. The SS is cool, but you know what's better? A Matte Black CT.

 

[Fleetwood75]

I really like the stainless steel aesthetic, and besides I own a structural engineering business specializing in steel design, and this will be my work truck, so it's like a rolling advertisement if it's bare steel. However, fingerprints do concern me. Is there such a thing as a totally transparent wrap that will preserve the look but be easier to clean? If there is I'd also worry about UV making it less transparent over time kind of like how plastic headlights fog and get yellow

 

[Cybergirl]

I really like the stainless steel aesthetic, and besides I own a structural engineering business specializing in steel design, and this will be my work truck, so it's like a rolling advertisement if it's bare steel. However, fingerprints do concern me. Is there such a thing as a totally transparent wrap that will preserve the look but be easier to clean? If there is I'd also worry about UV making it less transparent over time kind of like how plastic headlights fog and get yellow

I've been experimenting products to remove fingerprints from stainless steel. I found that the waterless wash from Aero Cosmetics removes fingerprints, but, in addition, puts down a thin layer of wax that keeps fingerprints from happening. I haven't tried it on Cybertruck SS, but will when I get mine. https://www.amazon.com/Aero-Cosmeti...id=1704906532&sprefix=aero+cos,aps,220&sr=8-6

 

[Fleetwood75]

I've been experimenting products to remove fingerprints from stainless steel. I found that the waterless wash from Aero Cosmetics removes fingerprints, but, in addition, puts down a thin layer of wax that keeps fingerprints from happening. I haven't tried it on Cybertruck SS, but will when I get mine. https://www.amazon.com/Aero-Cosmetics-Waterless-Aircraft-Motorcycle/dp/B09CLLFR1N/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1ILPXVFDJMWPB&keywords=aero+cosmetics+waterless+rv+aircraft+boat+wash+wax+mop&qid=1704906532&sprefix=aero+cos,aps,220&sr=8-6

Well I'll be very eager to hear your results! I have a guy who comes and washes/details our cars every few weeks and I already warned him that this truck is going to be a challenge

 

[Reasy]

I think painting a CT should be easy and a good choice. With the glass roof and tonneau cover, all that needs to be painted are mostly flat horizontal surfaces. (EASY)
With proper prep, primer and topcoats stainless steel can be painted and last years longer with less maintenance than vinyl. As more and more CT's hit the streets the paint will become better known option.
Ask any RV owner if they would rather have vinyl or paint on their motorhome. Most will admit that paint is the better way to go.

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